JAVMANewsSubsection

Colorado's new dean comes from wildlife background

Dr. Mark D. Stetter and other veterinarians with the Elephant Population Management Program perform a

laparoscopic vasectomy on a bull elephant in Africa. Dr. Stetter will take over as dean of the Colorado

State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in July.

Courtesy of Dr. Mark D. Stetter

Posted on February 1, 2012

By Malinda Larkin

The head of The Walt Disney Co.'s animal operations will be the new dean of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

The college announced Dec. 4, 2011, that Dr. Mark D. Stetter will begin working at CSU in May and become dean in July. He will succeed Dr. Lance E. Perryman, who will complete his tenure as dean in June. Dr. Perryman has been dean of the college since October 2001 (see JAVMA, Aug. 1, 2011, page 294).

CSU President Tony Frank said in a university press release that the search committee had been looking for "someone with vision, leadership, research and administrative experience to advance the college's research, support faculty achievement, engage alumni and constituents, and provide extraordinary education to our students," which it had found with Dr. Stetter.

Dr. Stetter said one of the things that makes Colorado State's veterinary college so unique is its impressive research component as well as nonveterinary undergraduate and graduate programs.

"I am really excited about investigating the numerous possible collaborations within the college and on a national and international level," he said.

At Disney, Dr. Stetter oversaw the health and daily care of several thousand animals for the company's programs and parks around the world and managed a team of more than 500, including veterinarians, curators, zookeepers, and aquarists. He also helped oversee the company's international wildlife research and conservation programs.

Dr. Stetter has been heavily involved with supporting animal and wildlife research efforts, and developed and chaired the company's Animal Care and Welfare Committee, which evaluated welfare situations for the company and ensured research was conducted with integrity and responsibility.

He serves as chair of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians' Research Committee and has served as chair of the Morris Animal Foundation's Wildlife Scientific Advisory Board and as a member of the American College of Zoological Medicine's executive board. He also is president and founder of the Elephant Population Management Program. The nonprofit helps African countries address biodiversity issues associated with elephant overpopulation while assisting in wildlife conservation.

Before joining The Disney Co. in 1997, Dr. Stetter was a veterinarian with the Wildlife Conservation Society's Animal Health Center, working at several of the society's New York facilities, including the Bronx and Central Park zoos and the New York Aquarium. He also directed the Animal Health Care Center at the Audubon Nature Institute's Zoological Garden in New Orleans.

Dr. Stetter is a diplomate of the ACZM. He received his DVM degree from the University of Illinois in 1988.